Last minute goal disallowed and Spartak must settle for a point
Spartak 1 Orwell 1 .
Spartak’s late awakening in this game came too late to garner all three points. Orwell proved doughty opponents and passed the ball better for much of the game, and unexpectedly took the lead on 68 minutes when Grace and Kenny allowed the oppponent time and space to crack a 25 yard shot past Peter O’Toole.
Spartak did not risk Graham Breen (hamstring) and were also without Anto Doyle (temporarily housebound). It was clear that a number of players had rested on their laurels over the holiday period and had eschewed training in favour of other pursuits. It was a policy which did not pay off in this game, where very few players displayed good form.
A bright start by Spartak soon fizzled out Glen Burke and Gintaras Cibirka up front were at times isolated and also at times chose to take on defenders when outnumbered. Stuart Love and Stephen Grier headed wide from a free and corner respectively and and Neil McGowan ‘s shot on the follow up was deflected over the bar after Tom Kowal’s header was saved.
Early in the second half Fintan Grace put an effort from Neil’s corner wide from close in.
Orwell’s goal stung Spartak into belated action and at last chances were created. Cibirka’s block from the keepers attempted clearance struck the woodork and seemed to cross the line before being cleared.
On 77 minutes the visiting keeper fumbled a cross and when Will O’Connell’s effort came back off the bar McGowan forced the ball in from close range.
Alex Kenny’s fine pass put Cibirka through in a one on one situation, but the keeper got a hand to the effort at the expense of a corner.
The final act in the 90th minute came as Cibirka volleyed a ball home, but the referee adjudged that McGowan was offside and in the keeper’s line of vision and disallowed the score. The final whistle followed seconds later.
Form report
Peter O’Toole 6 Fintan Grace 5 Robert Mahon 5 Steve Grier 5 Alex Kenny 6 Stuart Love 5 Neil McGowan 7 Gintaras Cibirka 6 Glen Burke 5 Tom Kowal 5 Will O Connell 6
Subs Graham McEnroe 6 Tom Flanagan 6 Dan O Connell 6 Kevin O Toole Graham Breen. Dave Browne no show.
